#regeneration

Mark 6:1-6    (KJV)

"And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching."

When I think of JESUS, the offspring of GOD ALMIGHTY, my mind goes directly to royalty and majesty!   But according to scripture, JESUS was not thought of very highly amongst those who had a "perception" of who HE was.  Their minds were fixed on who they thought HE was, rather than who HE demonstrated HE was!  

Our perception sometimes precludes our judgement.  We "perceive" things to be a certain way, yet the reality often proves us WRONG!  Typically wealth and public stature are used to determine acceptability and success.  

When you consider JESUS as a man, HE was not a great success story.  HE was a carpenter.  Scripture does not record if HE was a Master Carpenter.  HIS success as a carpenter was not well documented.  There is not a museum of artifacts that JESUS made while here on earth.  HIS work was "not of this world"! (John 8:23).  

HE was, and is, GOD in the flesh!  JESUS is GOD's son, yet HE lived in abstract poverty HIS entire life!  Why then does society tend to emphasize the temporal things (wealth, prestige, and earthly possessions) and neglect the eternal (relationship with GOD, loving our brother, caring for widows and sick, loving others)??

JESUS' ministry only lasted a little over three years here on earth.  Yet HE impacted this world in those three years unlike any before or since.  

The temple leaders were "astonished" at HIS teachings .  "And they were offended at him" at the same time!   When we are shown to be wrong, or our perception is misguided, our NATURE is to lash out and attack.   Our only hope is trading our "nature" in for a "SPIRIT"!    #regeneration